Jul 15, 2024 - 17:52
By manilatimes.net

Repatriated 'Filipino' turns out to be Chinese

BUREAU of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco on Monday sounded the alarm over Chinese migrants getting Philippine citizenship easily, saying it is a matter of national security.

«We are glad that many government agencies and lawmakers are already looking into this issue. This is a national security concern that needs to be addressed, lest it be abused by foreign nationals with malicious intent in the Philippines,» Tansingco said.

Tansingco reiterated his concern after immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport intercepted on Friday a Chinese who was repatriated to the Philippines after being trafficked to Myanmar.

Commissioner Norman Tansingco. Photo from Bureau of Immigration

The Chinese, identified only as alias «King,» presented himself as a Filipino during arrival inspection. Names have been redacted in compliance with current anti-trafficking laws.

Records show that alias King, 40, left the country last July 2023 to Thailand using a Chinese passport, holding a permanent residence visa under Republic Act 7919 or The Alien Social Integration Act of 1995.

He admitted that he used his Chinese passport as advised by his recruiters to avoid being questioned about the purpose of his travel.

Upon his arrival in Thailand, he crossed the river to Myanmar together with three others. He recounted how he was only compensated for one month but was punished later on.

He was released after paying his recruiters 20,000 baht or more than P2,000 but was arrested by Thai immigration and detained for three months.

King said that he feared being deported to China if he used his Chinese passport and declared that he had never traveled back to China since his mother brought him to the Philippines when he was six months old. His mother is a permanent residence holder in the Philippines, while his father is supposedly a naturalized Filipino.

He was issued a Philippine travel document by the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok and was deported to the Philippines.